Laptop Help Please

[Meister]

I have been using PCs since 1986, but the laptop is an unknown world to me. I have to get one though. I hope some of you can answer some of my questions:

- Are any laptops 64 bit ready for Vista? Is it necessary?
- Any problems with Dell?
- I want to use mostly AutoCAD 2D and some Solidworks 3D, besides the usual Office stuff
- Gaming is not important
- Any issues with 110 / 220V hookup?
- I want to be able to plug in a 21" desktop monitor in the office, any issues with graphics card?
- Do any of them do GPS for driving directions?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Larry_Fyne]

I have been using PCs since 1986, but the laptop is an unknown world to me. I have to get one though. I hope some of you can answer some of my questions:

- Are any laptops 64 bit ready for Vista? Is it necessary?
- Any problems with Dell?
- I want to use mostly AutoCAD 2D and some Solidworks 3D, besides the usual Office stuff
- Gaming is not important
- Any issues with 110 / 220V hookup?
- I want to be able to plug in a 21" desktop monitor in the office, any issues with graphics card?
- Do any of them do GPS for driving directions?

Thanks for your help.

- No - No
- No
- no problem
- games are for losers
- no
- no
- need GPS module (MS Streets + module = $100 at Costco)

 

[Esco!]

- No - No
- No
- no problem
- games are for losers
- no
- no
- need GPS module (MS Streets + module = $100 at Costco)

Wow, thats what I call a detailed response

 

[Incall]

I bought a dell 600m two years ago. The best way is go to Scarbourgh Town Centre or I believe Sherway Mall. They both have Dell retail booths and you can see and ask all your questions. Also you can negoiate a little.

 

[Mufflicker]

I bought a refurbished Dell latitude in 2000. It's now an expensive door stop. When I took it out of the box it wouldn't boot. The came out and fixed it. The hd went to hell toward the end of the warranty period along with the keyboard and battery. They replaced all of that but it broke again after it was out of warranty. Theyed told me the I could extend the warranty for a couple of hundred dollars. When I actually went to do it, it was $400. I don't know if it was because it was refurbished, a latitude, a Dell, or just the luck of the draw, but I sure wished they'd used vaseline when they stuck it in.

 

[Keebler Elf]

DON'T BUY DELL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mine crashed and burned after only 15 months or so. And stupid me didn't get the extended warranty so it's now a piece of junk. There's a reason why Dell is cheaper...

 

[Gawd]

- Are any laptops 64 bit ready for Vista? Is it necessary?
- Any problems with Dell?
- I want to use mostly AutoCAD 2D and some Solidworks 3D, besides the usual Office stuff
- Gaming is not important
- Any issues with 110 / 220V hookup?
- I want to be able to plug in a 21" desktop monitor in the office, any issues with graphics card?
- Do any of them do GPS for driving directions?
Thanks for your help.

- Newer and recent laptops are all ready for Vista, but things aren't looking too good for the new Windows (stick with XP for another year after Vista is released)
- Dell's suck... they're a volume producer and quality isn't really there. HP, LG, Sony, are the upper scaled ones, while Dell, Gateway, Emachines, Compaq, are the lower ones.
- Desktop replacement laptops are the way to go for graphic and design intensive programs
- Gaming on laptops isn't all that good unless you're using a desktop replacement
- Nope.
- Nope. Even the crappiest card can do it, as long as it complies with the resolution settings.
- Not unless you have satellite networking or can hookup the laptop with OnStar or whatever

I bought an $1800 HP desktop replacement in Jan and it does everything (P4, 1.5 GB RAM, 80 GB HD, DVD/CDRW, 17" mon) however, it weighs like 12 lbs!!!

 

[Esco!]

- Newer and recent laptops are all ready for Vista, but things aren't looking too good for the new Windows (stick with XP for another year after Vista is released)

I thought it was Longhorn, no???

- Dell's suck... they're a volume producer and quality isn't really there. HP, LG, Sony, are the upper scaled ones, while Dell, Gateway, Emachines, Compaq, are the lower ones.

Not fair dude, I own a DELL desktop and the thing is great.
But in fairness I hear all ( and not just DELL) laptops suck and have very limited lifespans

 

[canucklehead]

I would tell you to buy a mac but decent AutoCAD programs don't truly exist for OSX other then say VectorWorks (which i have a client that is an Architectural firm that is all Mac and they use VectorWorks.
I have seen many problems with the Dell and their own board power supplies. Sony's seem to be the most reliable from the hardware side of things i have been coming across in the Windows world.
The majority of laptops can handle both voltages.
Gaming on a laptop...... well if u r buying it for gaming get a PSP or DS.
Most graphics cards should support the dual monitor settings. I have a 23 hooked up to my 17 inch powerbook with an OK video card.
Just try to get a DVD burner on your laptop for burning your backup files and with a laptop backup backup backup...... did i mention with a laptop backup alot.

 

[Meister]

Thanks for all the input.

After your comments I am open to checking out other Laptops besides Dell also. Somebody else was telling me they had goods success with HP.

Gawd, you mention P4. I thought they have problems with overheating in Laptops? What's the best mobile chip?

 

[Gawd]

Thanks for all the input.

After your comments I am open to checking out other Laptops besides Dell also. Somebody else was telling me they had goods success with HP.

Gawd, you mention P4. I thought they have problems with overheating in Laptops? What's the best mobile chip?

My HP laptop has no problems with overheating... but that's cuz it's got 5 fans in it! 3 main fans that run constantly, then another 2 that shoots out a stream of jet hot air from the side when I'm doing heavy graphic and CPU usage. So that has that covered... besides, for another $50, you can buy a third party flat tray that has fans built into it that you place under the laptop. Only real prob is the weight (12 lbs) and the battery only lasts 2 hrs.

Centrino is the best mobile chip, it's more costly than AMD's Sempron, but it's better.

 

[Esco!]

My HP laptop has no problems with overheating... but that's cuz it's got 5 fans in it! 3 main fans that run constantly, then another 2 that shoots out a stream of jet hot air from the side when I'm doing heavy graphic and CPU usage. So that has that covered... besides, for another $50, you can buy a third party flat tray that has fans built into it that you place under the laptop. Only real prob is the weight (12 lbs) and the battery only lasts 2 hrs.

Centrino is the best mobile chip, it's more costly than AMD's Sempron, but it's better.

LOL.......You always make me laugh, Dude!!!!
Spazz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ruck]

Actually, sempron and centrino is a difference of opinions.
Some will swear by sempron, some will swear by centrino.

All laptops suck for many reasons. The biggest being the capability, or lack there of, of upgrading. They also overheat a lot due to the inability to exhaust ambient heat. All those circuits and chips run at a pretty hot temp, about 50 degrees, and without a proper cooling solution, tend to crash very often. It's also hard and expensive to get proper cooling in a laptop due to space confinement. Smaller fans won't move as much air as bigger fans. Common sense.

I'd recommend Toshiba but I'm not too sure how well they are built now. They used to be awesome in terms of reliability, but then that was several years ago.

Good luck.

 

[boyGONEwild]

Actually, sempron and centrino is a difference of opinions.
Some will swear by sempron, some will swear by centrino.

All laptops suck for many reasons. The biggest being the capability, or lack there of, of upgrading. They also overheat a lot due to the inability to exhaust ambient heat. All those circuits and chips run at a pretty hot temp, about 50 degrees, and without a proper cooling solution, tend to crash very often. It's also hard and expensive to get proper cooling in a laptop due to space confinement. Smaller fans won't move as much air as bigger fans. Common sense.

I'd recommend Toshiba but I'm not too sure how well they are built now. They used to be awesome in terms of reliability, but then that was several years ago.

Good luck.

Maybe ruck feels this way because ruck downloads too much porn at one time and any normal laptop can't handle the over load. ha

 

[fjdude]

Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY A DELL!

HP COMPAQ's are recommended.

 

[kooley]

however, it weighs like 12 lbs!!!

holy crap thats more than a 1 year old!!!!!!!

 

[Weekly]

How will this laptop perform online on the internet?

http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=LongDesc&sku=23236

 

[canucklehead]

I thought the finished Vista product when finished will not work with any PCs that use BIOS. Only ones that support EFI.

 

[Weekly]

How will this laptop perform online on the internet?

http://www.atic.ca/index.php?page=LongDesc&sku=23236

???





------------------------

 

[foolnarnd]

Never Had A Dell Fail Yet

I've run five Dells in succession now - a 486, a PII, a PIII, one Inspiron laptop (P4), and now a new P4 Dual Core. They all are still running, including the old 486 - well, it's off right now as I have nothing for it to do - the rest run every day.

The laptop's harddrive finally bit the dust after three and a bit years of nearly continuous running - I never shut it off unless I was going somewhere with it. It was my desktop computer for probably half its life.

The only problem is that you need to be all over Dell's service and not let their screwy goof-ups keep you from getting what you want. Enough jumping on them to do what they know they are supposed to and it gets done.

BTW, I've killed every Toshiba I've ever had - two or three and someone I know has also had similar bad luck. I'd never, ever buy their Satellite brand.